Suspect shot by cops in Ike chase after Hillside carjacking

May 14, 2010

A Hillside police officer exchanged gunfire with a carjacking suspect during a chase down the Eisenhower Expressway, seriously wounding the suspect, acccording to authorities and a relative of the carjacking victim.

The chase began after the owner of a West Side carwash was followed to his Hillside home near Hillside Avenue and Adams Street at about 9 p.m. and his van stolen at gunpoint, according to police and the victim's family.

The van fled east on the Eisenhower Expressway and a suspect was wounded during an exchange of gunfire with police at 1st Avenue, according to relatives and Hillside Police Chief Joseph Lukaszek. The chase continued on the Eisenhower into Chicago, where the van exited at Cicero, according to Illinois State Police. The chase ended when the van crashed at Jackson Boulevard and Keeler Avenue. Police said they recovered a weapon at the scene.

The wounded person was taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital in serious to critical condition, fire spokesman Richard Rosado said.

The carwash owner had left his family's West Side business after it closed Thursday evening and apparently was followed home, the victim's relative said. The man was parking the family van in the driveway after dropping off his wife and children at their Hillside home when two men came up and demanded the van and his wallet, the relative said.

The two men got into the conversion van and began shooting, but the victim was able to flee and call police, the relative said. Police chased the van and the suspects traded shots with police, the relative said.

Lukaszek, however, said only one suspect committed the carjacking.

The Eisenhower at 1st Avenue was shut for about an hour late Thursday as investigators collected evidence in the case, state police said.